Save the Norwegian military bands!

[mikalengen]

The Norwegian military has proposed to reduce the number of military bands in Norway from five to one. I you want to support Norwegian military musicians pleace sign the petition in the link. The petition is sent to the politicians on the ninth of november.

http://www.opprop.net/bevarforsvaretsmusikk

[Three Valves]

Norway has a military??

Who knew??

[mikalengen]

Norway does have some small but capable military forces and some of the smallest and most capable are the military bands.

The bands are:
The Staff Band of the Norwegian Armed Forces, Oslo: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3TELFh84kAs
The Royal Norwegian Air Force Band, Trondheim: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bfJxh24qL-0
The Royal Norwegian Navy Band, Horten: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-HWWD9bXCjo
The Norwegian Naval Forces Band, Bergen: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZxOAxLrDlQ
The Norwegian Army Band North, Harstad: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tld4o-rowwo

The current proposal from the chief of defence will cut the number of musicians with 1/3 and centralize the rest in one large band in the capital, Oslo, leaving the rest of the country without military music or professional wind bands.

[boobentuben]

not to worry - new low wage Syrian replacement bands are coming

[Wyvern]

This seems to be a worldwide problem with politicians not realising the importance of music to both the image and moral of the military. Good luck in getting this overturned!

[mikalengen]

Well, we are still hoping that the politicians will se our importance and come to rescue us, the proposal stems from the armed forces themselves and have just been sent over to the Secretary of defence.

About the Syrian replacements: The Middle East is where military music came from originally isn't it?

And here is a bit from todays local newspaper where a not so little known tubaplayer thanks his first tuba teacher, who came from the Royal Norwegian Air Force Band.

[acjcf2]

Same thing is happening here in th US. Many branches are cutting back.

[Steve Sykes]

Shocked to read this - I've recorded solos with the Royal Norwegian Navy Band - a great ensemble.
I've signed the petition.